Clippers welcome back Billups in win over Timberwolves

The Clippers' Chauncey Billups points downcourt during the Clippers' 101-95 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center Wednesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LOS ANGELES – Chauncey Billups had just drained his first shot at Staples Center since tearing his left Achilles' tendon when the in-house DJ played some choice words from Jay Z's "Public Service Announcement:"

"Allow me to reintroduce myself."

As the Clippers reintroduced their fans to Billups, the team reintroduced itself to the win column Wednesday night, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 101-95.

Billups received a standing ovation when his name was announced first with the starting lineup, and the cheers grew even louder when he drained a three-point shot in his first attempt of the season.

Billups scored the Clippers' first five points and finished the quarter with seven.

And while he would not score again the rest of the game, Billups showed his value in other ways.

On one fast break, Billups ran over to Chris Paul, who had the ball, and told Paul where Blake Griffin was cutting. Paul threw a perfect bounce pass to Griffin for an easy dunk.

Then with less than a minute to go and the Clippers up two, Billups could have held the ball and waited for Minnesota to foul. He didn't, instead throwing a perfect lob pass to DeAndre Jordan for a dunk.

With Billups back in the lineup, the Clippers showed off their balance, with five players scoring in double figures, led by Paul's 23. Griffin added 18, Jordan scored 15, Matt Barnes 13 and Jamal Crawford 11 off the bench.

While the win snapped a four-game losing streak, though, the Clippers aren't completely in the clear. Minnesota dominated the glass, grabbing 52 rebounds to the Clippers' 35.

Still, the Clippers' defense, which had struggled during their losing streak, held the Timberwolves to 37.8 percent shooting..

The Clippers' Chauncey Billups points downcourt during the Clippers' 101-95 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center Wednesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Chauncey Billups battles with the Timberwolves' Josh Howard for the ball during the first half. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin, from left, listen to the national anthem before the start of Wednesday's game against the Timberwolves. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' DeAndre Jordan dunks over the Timberwolves' Josh Howard, Kevin Love and Nikola Pekovic, from left, during the first half. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Blake Griffin is fouled by the Timberwolves' Alexey Shved during the first half. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Chauncey Billups, left, talks with his teammates during a break in the action Wednesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Chauncey Billups talks with coach Vinny Del Negro during the first half. Playing for the first time since February, Billups had 8 points in 19 minutes. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Timberwolves' Derrick Williams dunks over the Clippers' Ronny Turiaf during the first half. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Timberwolves' Kevin Love is inadvertandly knocked over by the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan after a Blake Griffin basket during the first half. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Blake Griffin scores over the Timberwolves' Kevin Love during the first half. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Willie Green applauds from the bench during the first half. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Blake Griffin scores two of his 18 points during the Clippers' 101-95 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center Wednesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Blake Griffin is fouled as he drives to the basket between the Timberwolves' Derrick Williams, left, and Dante Cunningham during the Clippers' 101-95 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center Wednesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Matt Barnes argues for a foul and gets a technical foul during the Clippers' 101-95 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center Wednesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Blake Griffin knocks the ball out of Kevin Love's hands during the Clippers' 101-95 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center Wednesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Blake Griffin shoots over the Timberwolves' Kevin Love during the Clippers' 101-95 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center Wednesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' DeAndre Jordan is fouled by the Timberwolves' Nikola Pekovic during the Clippers' 101-95 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center Wednesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Chris Paul is fouled by the Timberwolves' Jose Barea during the Clippers' 101-95 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center Wednesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Blake Griffin waits for an inbound pass during the Clippers' 101-95 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center Wednesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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